Divisional Commissioner Dr Pawan Kotwal, who is also the Chairman of Indian Red Cross Society, regional branch today convened a meeting with controlling heads of all the banks operating in Jammu.Dr Kotwal solicited cooperation and contribution from banks to further strengthen this organization so that Red Cross Society can continue to take immediate action and provide first relief, cash assistance and other support to the victims of disasters, accidents etc.During the meeting, Divisional Commissioner impressed upon the banks to contribute in growth and development of the areas they are operating in. He asked them to come forward and take up one or two activities each in local areas as part of their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).Stressing on the need to train citizens in essential first aid, he asked the banks to impart first aid training via Red Cross society to their employees. He said that banking institutions are present across the region having wide reach and this measure will be a significant step in training every citizen as a ready 'First Aid Force'.Dr Kotwal said that Red Cross has always been in the fore front in helping the needy, impoverished people and asked them contribute in the functioning of this philanthropic organization by means of sponsoring medicines, prosthetics and other aids, life saving equipments, tri-cycles etc besides cash contributions out of their CSR.Discussing the annual Red Cross Raffle cum Mela, he said that this year the society is making grand preparations to increase the amount of funds generated by the event and is therefore printing over 5 lakh tickets. He listed out various ways in which the banks can contribute to the event by means of donations, sponsorship and/or taking up individual elements of the event.Earlier, Dr Pawan Kotwal inspected the Red Cross society complex for initiating appropriate decisions on issues being faced by Red Cross Society.
While highlighting the outreach of the society towards creating a pain and conflict free society and alleviating human sufferings, the Divisional Commissioner asked the society to prepare a comprehensive plan for providing first aid training to maximum number of people involving government departments, civil societies, students and residents of border areas to ensure maximum coverage of this training programme.
Dr Kotwal directed JMC to deploy Safai Karmcharis for collection of garbage from offices and shops on daily basis to ensure cleanliness of the complex .He directed the society to develop approach area for parking of Red Cross vehicles only. He further gave directions for developing a proposal for installation of lift, collapsible gate and generator set in the building along with installation of CCTV cameras.Divisional Commissioner was accompanied by Vice chairman JDA Mubarak Singh, Commissioner Jammu Municipal Corporation, Manmohan Singh, SSP, Dr Sunil Gupta, SSP (Traffic) Vidaya Bhaskar, ADC Rifat Kohli , S. E. (R& B) and JDA, Executive Engineer PWD and PDD and office bearers of Red Cross society.